Surface Area of Prism

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The surface area of a 3-dimensional solid prism depends upon the shape of its base. The
surface area of a prism is the total area occupied by the faces of the prism. A prism is a
polyhedron with flat faces. It has no curves.

1. What is the Surface Area of Prism?

2. How to Calculate the Surface Area of Prism?

3. FAQs on Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

What is the Surface Area of Prism?

The surface area of a prism refers to the amount of total space occupied by the flat faces
of the prism. Finding the surface area of a prism means calculating the total space
occupied by all the faces of that respective type of prism or the sum of the areas of all
faces (or surfaces) in a 3D plane.

Surface Area of a Prism Formula

To find the surface area of any kind of prism we use the general formula. The total
surface area of a prism is the sum of lateral surface area and area of two flat bases. Let
us look at the surface area of the prism formula

The lateral area is the area of the vertical faces, in case a prism has its bases
facing up and down. Thus, the lateral surface area of prism = base perimeter ×
height

surface area of a Prism = Lateral surface area of prism + area of the two
The total
bases = (2 × Base Area) + Lateral surface area or (2 × Base Area) + (Base perimeter
× height).

There are various types of prisms. The bases of different types of prisms are different so
are the formulas to determine the surface area of the prism. See the table below to
understand this concept behind the surface area of various prism:

Surface Area of Prism = (2 × Base Area) + (Base

Shape Base perimeter × height)

Triangular Triangular Surface area of triangular prism = bh + (s1 + s2 + b)H

Prism

Square Prism Square Surface area of square prism = 2a2 + 4ah

Rectangular Rectangular Surface area of rectangular prism = 2(lb + bh + lh)

Prism

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 Trapezoidal Trapezoidal Surface area of trapezoidal prism = h (b + d) + l (a + b
Prism + c + d)

Pentagonal Pentagonal Surface area of pentagonal prism = 5ab + 5bh

Prism

Hexagonal Hexagonal Surface area of hexagonal prism = 6b(a + h)

Prism
+ 3√3a2
Surface area of regular hexagonal prism = 6ah

Octagonal Octagonal Surface area of octagonal prism = 4a2 (1 + √2) + 8aH

Prism

Check out types of prisms to get more details about various prisms.

Let us calculate the surface area of the triangular prism given below with a base "b", the
height of prism "h", and length "L".

The given prism has two triangular bases. Therefore, according to the surface area of the
prism formula (2 × Base Area) + (Base perimeter × height). Here the base is triangular so
the base area A = ½ bh, and the base perimeter = the sum of three sides of the triangle
let's say (a + b + c). On substituting the respective values in the formula we have, the
surface area of a triangular prism = bh + (a + b + c)H = .(2A + PH)

How to Calculate the Surface Area of Prism?

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The steps to determine the surface area of the prism are:

Step 1: Note down the given dimensions of the prism.

Step 2: Substitute the dimensions in the surface area of prism formula (2 × Base
Area) + (Base perimeter × height).
Step 3: The value of the surface area of the prism is obtained and the unit of the
surface area of the prism is placed in the end (in terms of square units).

Example: Find the surface area of a prism given above whose base area is 12 square
units, the base perimeter is 18 units and the height of the prism is 6 units.

Solution: As we know, the surface area of the prism is given as

Surface Area of Prism = (2 × Base Area) + (Base perimeter × height)

Base area = 12 square units

Base perimeter = 18 units

Height of the prism = 6 units

Thus, Surface Area of Prism = (2 × 12) + (18 × 6)

⇒ S = 132 units2

∴ The surface area of prism is 132 square units.

Solved Examples
1. Example 1: What will be the surface area of the triangular prism if the base and
height of a triangular prism are 8 units and 14 units respectively along with the
height of the equilateral triangular bases being 9 units?

Solution: Given information is base = 8 units, height of the base = 9 units, length of
each side of the base = 8 units, and height of the prism = 14 units

Surface area of a triangular prism = (bh + (a + b + c)H)

We know that all three sides of an equilateral triangle are equal. Therefore, a = b = c
= 8 units

Surface area = (8 × 9) + (8 + 8 + 8) × 14
Surface area = 72 + 24 × 14

Surface area = 72 + 336

Surface area = 408 units2

Therefore, the surface area
of the given triangular prism is 408 units2

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 2. Example 2: Find the lateral surface area of the prism given if the perimeter of the
base is 200 inches, height of the prism is 75 inches. Also, find the surface area of
the prism if the base area is 250 sq. inches.

Solution: The bases of the prism are polygons. Thus, the lateral surface area of the
prism, L = perimeter of base × height of prism
Lateral surface area = 200 × 75 = 15,000 in2

S = (2 × Base Area) + (Base perimeter × height)

where "S" is the surface area of the
prism.

Base area = 250 in2

S = (2 × 250) + (15000)

S = 500 + 15000 = 15500 in2

Therefore, the lateral surface
area of the given prism is 15,000 in2, and the surface
area of the prism is 15500 in2.

FAQs on Surface Area of Prism

What is the Definition of the Surface Area of Prism?

The amount of area occupied by a prism is referred to as the surface area of a prism. The
surface area of the prism depends on the base area of the prism and the lateral surface
area of the prism. The unit of the surface area of the prism is expressed in m2, cm2, in2,
or ft2.

What is the Formula for Surface Area of Prism?

The formula for the surface area of a prism is obtained by taking the sum of (twice the
base area) and (the lateral surface area of the prism). The surface area of a prism is
given as S = (2 × Base Area) + (Base perimeter × height) where "S" is the surface area of
the prism.

How to Find the Surface Area of Prism?

We can find the surface area of the prism using the following steps:

Step 1: Observe the pattern of the prism. Write down the given dimensions of the
respective prism.
Step 2: Substitute the dimensions in the surface area of prism formula (2 × Base
Area) + (Base perimeter × height).
Step 3: The value of the surface area of the prism is obtained and the unit of the
surface area of the prism is placed in the end (in terms of square units).

How Do You Find the Base Area of Prism If the Surface Area of Prism is
Given?
The steps to determine the base area of the prism, if the surface area of the prism is
given, is:

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 Step 1: Write the given dimensions of the prism.
Step 2: Substitute the given values in the formula S = (2 × Base Area) + (Base
perimeter × height) where "S" is the surface area of the prism.
Step 3: Now solve the equation for "Base Area by simplifying the equations".
Step 4: Once the value of the base area of the prism is obtained, write the unit of
the base area prism in terms of square units.

What Happens to the Surface Area of Prism If the Base Area of Prism is
Doubled?
The surface area of a prism depends on the base area of the prism and the lateral
surface area of the prism. Let us substitute the value of the base area as 2B in the
surface area of the prism formula. The final result we have, B' = 2B, thus S' = (4 × Base
Area) + (Base perimeter × height).Thus, only the final value of the surface area of the
prism will increase if the base area of the prism is doubled but the value of surface area
will definitely not get doubled or quadrupled.

What Happens to the Surface Area of Prism When the Height of Prism is
Doubled?
The surface area of the prism depends on the base area of the prism and the lateral
surface area of the prism. This lateral surface area has an important parameter that is the
height of the prism. Let us substitute the value of the height of prism as 2H in the surface
area of the prism formula. The final result we have, H' = 2H, thus S' = (2 × Base Area) +
(Base perimeter × 2H). Thus, only the final value of the surface area of the prism will
increase if the height of the prism is doubled but the value of surface area will definitely
not get doubled or quadrupled.

How Does the Surface Area of Prism Change If the Type of Prism
Changes?

The surface area of the prism depends on the base area of the prism and the lateral
surface area of the prism. Different types of prisms have different bases hence, as the
type of prism changes, the base of the prism changes. This changes the base area of the
prism changes which in turn changes the surface area of the prism.

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